Proximity Routing For Session Based Applications Using Anycast

ABSTRACT

Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, which can comprise automatically providing content to an information device from a content distribution node of a plurality of content distribution nodes. The information device can be adapted to send a request for the content from the first content distribution node utilizing an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the content distribution node.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/480,734 filed on Sep. 9, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/924,919, filed on Oct. 26, 2007, now U.S. Pat.No. 8,838,802, each of the disclosures of which are hereby incorporatedby reference in their entireties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A wide variety of potential practical and useful embodiments will bemore readily understood through the following detailed description ofcertain exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanyingexemplary drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 1000;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 2000;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 3000;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 4000;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 5000;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 6000;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 7000;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an informationdevice 8000; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 9000.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method, which can compriseautomatically providing content to an information device from a contentdistribution node of a plurality of content distribution nodes. Theinformation device can be adapted to send a request for the content fromthe first content distribution node utilizing an Internet Protocol (IP)address of the content distribution node.

Content distribution networks (CDNs) can be an important resource inpublic networks. As used herein, resource means something used forsupport or help. As used herein, can means is capable of, in at leastsome embodiments. CDNs can be used in applications ranging frombroadcasted events to the distribution of on-line media. As used herein,used means employed for a purpose. As used herein, from means used toindicate a source. Building an effective CDN in a diverse enterprisenetwork can be a challenge. As used herein, a means at least one. Asused herein, one means a single entity. As used herein, at least meansnot less than. As used herein, plurality means the state of being pluraland/or more than one.

As used herein, network means a communicatively coupled plurality ofnodes, communication devices, and/or information devices. Via a network,such devices can be linked, such as via various wireline and/or wirelessmedia, such as cables, telephone lines, power lines, optical fibers,radio waves, and/or light beams, etc., to share resources (such asprinters and/or memory devices), exchange files, and/or allow electroniccommunications there between. A network can be and/or can utilize any ofa wide variety of sub-networks and/or protocols, such as a circuitswitched, public-switched, packet switched, connection-less, wireless,virtual, radio, data, telephone, twisted pair, POTS, non-POTS, DSL,cellular, telecommunications, video distribution, cable, terrestrial,microwave, broadcast, satellite, broadband, corporate, global, national,regional, wide area, backbone, packet-switched TCP/IP, IEEE 802.03,Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Token Ring, local area, wide area, IP, publicInternet, intranet, private, ATM, Ultra Wide Band (UWB), Wi-Fi,BlueTooth, Airport, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE802.11g, X-10, electrical power, multi-domain, and/or multi-zonesubnetwork and/or protocol, one or more Internet service providers,and/or one or more information devices, such as a switch, router, and/orgateway not directly connected to a local area network, etc., and/or anyequivalents thereof.

As used herein, non means not. As used herein, via means by way ofand/or utilizing. As used herein, utilize means to use and/or put intoservice. As used herein, not means a negation of something. As usedherein, router means a device adapted to direct traffic and/or determinethe next network point to which a data packet should be forwardedenroute toward its destination. The router is connected to at least twonetworks and determines which way to send each data packet based on itscurrent understanding of the state of the networks it is connected to.Routers create or maintain a table of the available routes and use thisinformation to determine the best route for a given data packet. Atypical router operates at least at the bottom 3 layers (Physical, Link,and Network layers) of the OSI model. As used herein, send means toconvey. As used herein, server means an information device and/or aprocess running thereon that is adapted to be communicatively coupled toa network and that is adapted to provide at least one service for atleast one other information device communicatively coupled to thenetwork and/or for at least one process running on the other informationdevice. A common example is a file server, which has a local disk andservices requests from remote clients to read and write files on thatdisk. A server can also provide access to resources, such as programs,shared devices, etc.

As used herein, network interface means any physical and/or logicaldevice, system, and/or process capable of coupling an information deviceto a network. Exemplary network interfaces comprise a telephone,cellular phone, cellular modem, telephone data modem, fax modem,wireless transceiver, Ethernet card, cable modem, digital subscriberline interface, bridge, hub, router, or other similar device, softwareto manage such a device, and/or software to provide a function of such adevice. As used herein, process means (n.) an organized series ofactions, changes, and/or functions adapted to bring about a result. (v.)to perform mathematical and/or logical operations according toprogrammed instructions in order to obtain desired information and/or toperform actions, changes, and/or functions adapted to bring about aresult. As used herein, other means not the same as already mentionedand/or implied. As used herein, provide means to furnish, supply, give,convey, send, and/or make available.

Streaming media transmissions can be utilized for both live Webcasts andon-demand access to streaming content. As used herein, transmissionmeans an electronic communication of a message. As used herein, accessmeans (n) a permission, liberty, right, mechanism, or ability to enter,approach, communicate with and/or through, make use of, and/or pass toand/or from a place, thing, and/or person. (v) to enter, approach,communicate with and/or through, make use of, and/or pass to and/orfrom. As used herein, make means to create, generate, and/or form. Asused herein, and/or means either in conjunction with or in alternativeto. As used herein, communicate means to exchange information. As usedherein, content means substance and/or substantive portion of a packet.As used herein, packet means a generic term for a bundle of dataorganized in a specific way for transmission, such as within and/oracross a network, such as a digital packet-switching network, andcomprising the data to be transmitted and certain control information,such as a destination address. As used herein, transmit means toprovide, furnish, supply, send as a signal, and/or to convey (e.g.,force, energy, and/or information) from one place and/or thing toanother. As used herein, either means one or the other of two. Suchtransmissions can be made in corporate environments where streaming canbe used for employee town-hall meetings and/or training courses, etc. Asused herein, enter means to come and/or flow into. As used herein, formeans with a purpose of.

Certain exemplary embodiments can be adapted to provide and/or definepaths for content, such as streaming content, via a backbone network. Asused herein, define means to establish the meaning, relationship,outline, form, and/or structure of; and/or to precisely and/ordistinctly describe and/or specify. The content can be associated with acontent server and can be distributed to requesting end nodes via aplurality of content distribution nodes. As used herein, contentdistribution node means an information device communicatively coupled toa network, the information device addressable via a domain name portionof a Uniform Resource Locator associated with a content provider, andadapted to obtain and store, and transmit upon request, informationobtained from the content provider. The content can be routedintelligently by utilizing traffic information that is obtained and/oranalyzed by an Intelligent Route Service Control Point (IRSCP). As usedherein, Intelligent Route Service Control Point (IRSCP) means a deviceadapted to provide a preferred route for a predetermined block oftraffic to a router. As used herein, predetermined means established inadvance. The IRSCP can be adapted to automatically detect traffic loadsin a network communicatively coupled to an information device. As usedherein, traffic load means an intensity of a flow of bits, packets,datagrams, calls, and/or messages. The IRSCP can be adapted todynamically change preferred routes provided to a plurality of ProviderEdge (PE) routers responsive to the traffic loads. As used herein,responsive means reacting to an influence and/or impetus. The IRSCP canbe adapted to cause a redirection of traffic responsive to changes inload conditions and/or detected failures in a network. Thus, the IRSCPcan be adapted to provide network load balancing. As used herein, cause,when used as a verb, means to bring about, provoke, precipitate,produce, elicit, be the reason for, result in, and/or effect.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 1000,which can comprise a backbone network 1100, a first access network 1200,a second access network 1300, a first information device 1400, a secondinformation device 1450, a content provider 1800, a first contentdistribution node 1500, a second content distribution node 1600, and athird content distribution node 1700. Note, heavy solid lines representphysical and/or logical communications links and light lines with arrowtips represent an exchange of information between connected entities. Asused herein, content provider means an information device that comprisespredetermined substantive information and is adapted to provide thepredetermined substantive information to a plurality of contentdistribution nodes for further distribution to requesting informationdevices. As used herein, further means in addition. As used herein,third means an element that immediately follows a second element of aseries. Content from content distribution node 1500 can be provided toinformation devices such as first information device 1400 and secondinformation device 1450 via a selected one of first content distributionnode 1500, second content distribution node 1600, and third contentdistribution node 1700. As used herein, selected means a chosen item.Utilizing content distribution nodes to provide content can improveperformance and/or network link loads compared to providing contentdirectly to first information device 1400 and second information device1450 from content provider 1800. Selection of one of first contentdistribution node 1500, second content distribution node 1600, and thirdcontent distribution node 1700 to provide content to first informationdevice 1400 and/or second information device 1450 can be made to providea best found content transfer logical distance and/or rate withinconstraints of avoiding overloading network links and/or nodes. Incertain exemplary embodiments, selection of one of first contentdistribution node 1500, second content distribution node 1600, and thirdcontent distribution node 1700 to provide content to first informationdevice 1400 and/or second information device 1450 can be dynamic in thatdifferent selections might be made over time responsive to network loadconditions and/or network failures.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 2000,which can comprise a backbone network 2100, a first access network 2200,a second access network 2300, a first information device 2400, a secondinformation device 2500, a first local DNS 2600, a second local DNS2700, a DNS based redirection system 2800, a first content distributionnode 2900, and a second content distribution node 2950. Note, heavysolid lines represent physical and/or logical communications links andlight lines with arrow tips represent an exchange of information betweenconnected entities. Redirection of selections of first contentdistribution node 2900 and second content distribution node 2950 can bemade via intercepting DNS resolution requests. For example, firstinformation device 2400 can request an address via which content can beobtained. The request can be made to second local DNS 2700. Responsiveto the request, second local DNS 2700 can request address informationfrom DNS based redirection system 2800, which can provide the addressinformation to second local DNS 2700. DNS based redirection system 2800can determine the address information based upon an automaticdetermination of which of first content distribution node 2900 andsecond content distribution node 2950 should be selected to provide thecontent to first information device 2400. The address returned by firstinformation device 2400 from DNS based redirection system 2800 viasecond local DNS 2700 can be an Internet Protocol (IP) address. Incertain exemplary embodiments, the IP address can be an anycast IPaddress associated with each of first content distribution node 2900 andsecond content distribution node 2950. As used herein, anycast InternetProtocol (IP) address means an address that can be shared among aplurality of information devices adapted to provide predeterminedcontent, via a network utilizing the Internet Protocol standard, to arequesting information device, a Provider Edge device selects aninformation device of the plurality of information devices to providethe predetermined content to the requesting information device, therequesting information device is not necessarily provided with a uniqueidentifier of the selected information device. As used herein, uniquemeans not identical to any other. The anycast IP address might notuniquely identify first content distribution node 2900 and secondcontent distribution node 2950.

DNS based redirection system 2800 can be directly coupled to backbonenetwork 2100. DNS based redirection system 2800 can be adapted toprovide an anycast IP address to a DNS server (e.g., first local DNS2600 and/or second local DNS 2700) responsive to a domain name portionof a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) received by the DNS server fromfirst information device 2400. The domain name portion of the URL can beindicative of a request by first information device 2400 for content. Asused herein, indicative means serving to indicate. The anycast IPaddress can be assigned to a plurality of content distribution nodes.Each of the plurality of content distribution nodes can be assigned aunique unicast IP address. As used herein, unicast Internet Protocol(IP) address means a unique address assigned to a specific informationdevice such that other information devices can identify and communicatewith and/or through that specific information device via a networkutilizing the Internet Protocol standard (IP). Each of the plurality ofcontent distribution nodes addressable by the anycast IP address or theunique unicast IP address. As used herein, addressable means capable ofbeing addressed and/or communicated with.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 3000,which can comprise a backbone network 3100, a first access network 3200,a second access network 3300, a first information device 3400, a secondinformation device 3500, a local DNS 3600, an DNS based redirectionsystem 3700, a first content distribution node 3800, and a secondcontent distribution node 3850, a first router 3900, a second router3910, a third router 3920, a fourth router 3930, a fifth router 3940,and a sixth router 3950. Note, heavy dashed lines in system 3000represent session communications, heavy solid lines represent physicaland/or logical communications links, and light lines with arrow tipsrepresent an exchange of information between connected entities. Incertain exemplary embodiments, each of first content distribution node3800 and second content distribution node 3850 can be reached by acommon anycast IP address. One or more of first router 3900, secondrouter 3910, third router 3920, fourth router 3930, fifth router 3940,and sixth router 3950 can be adapted to automatically select a contentdistribution node based upon one or more predetermined criteria. Thepredetermined criteria can be related to physical proximity of thecontent distribution node to a requesting information device, a logicalproximity of the content distribution node to a requesting informationdevice, and/or load conditions in the network. Responsive to a requestfor content by first information device 3400 and/or second informationdevice 3500, signals can be sent to local DNS 3600 requesting an addressassociated with the content. Local DNS 3600 can request that DNS basedredirection system 3700 provide the address. The address can be ananycast IP address shared by first content distribution node 3800 andsecond content distribution node 3850.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 4000,which can comprise a backbone network 4100, a first access network 4200,a second access network 4300, a first information device 4400, a secondinformation device 4450, a first content distribution node 4500, and asecond content distribution node 4550, a first router 4700, a secondrouter 4710, a third router 4720, a fourth router 4730, a fifth router4740, a sixth router 4750, and an IRSCP 4600. Note, heavy solid linesrepresent physical and/or logical communications links and light lineswith arrow tips represent an exchange of information between connectedentities. IRSCP 4600 can be adapted to monitor one or more of backbonenetwork 4100, first access network 4200, and/or second access network4300 regarding component failures and/or load conditions (e.g., actualload on nodes, requests for network bandwidth, physical networkdistances, and/or logical network distances, etc.). IRSCP 4600 can beadapted to run a load balancing algorithm, which can be adapted toattempt to produce a ranked table of information devices and/or linksthat is ranked relative to load on each respective node and/or link.IRSCP 4600 can be adapted to change of the routing of packets exchangedbetween first information device 4400 and/or second information device4450 and first content distribution node 4500 and/or a second contentdistribution node 4550. The routing can be changed responsive to one ormore detected conditions associated with system 4000.

IRSCP 4600 can be adapted to provide a ranked list of provider edgerouters, such as first router 4700 and second router 4710. As usedherein, Provider Edge router means a router in a Provider networkcommunicatively coupled to a device in a Customer network. The rankedlist of provider edge routers can be ranked according to load. IRSCP4600 can be adapted to provide information to one or more DNS basedredirection system and/or local DNS devices adapted to change packetrouting between first information device 4400 and/or second informationdevice 4450 and first content distribution node 4500 and/or a secondcontent distribution node 4550. IRSCP 4600 can be adapted to provideinformation to first router 4700, second router 4710, third router 4720,fourth router 4730, fifth router 4740, and/or sixth router 4750 adaptedto change packet routing between first information device 4400 and/orsecond information device 4450 and first content distribution node 4500and/or a second content distribution node 4550.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 5000,which can comprise a backbone network 5100, a first access network 5200,a second access network 5300, a first information device 5400, a secondinformation device 5450, a first content distribution node 5500, and asecond content distribution node 5550, a first router 5700, a secondrouter 5710, a third router 5720, a fourth router 5730, a fifth router5740, a sixth router 5750, and an IRSCP 5600. Note, heavy dashed linesin system 5000 represent session communications, heavy solid linesrepresent physical and/or logical communications links, and light lineswith arrow tips represent an exchange of information between connectedentities. In certain exemplary embodiments, content requested by firstinformation device 5400 and/or second information device 5450 can exceeda predetermined size and/or can be associated with an informationtransfer that exceeds a predetermined duration. Such content can beclassified as long-lived content. Load balancing and/or certain networkfailures can be problematic for long-lived content transmissions since achange in a content distribution node during such a long-livedtransmission might reset the long-lived transmission and cause thelong-lived transmission to be retransmitted from a beginning packet. Asused herein, begin means to start. For example, in exemplary along-lived content transmission 5800 can be provided to firstinformation device 5400 from first content distribution node 5500. Firstcontent distribution node 5500 might have been selected to providelong-lived content transmission 5800 to first information device 5400 byfirst router 5700 based upon information provided by IRSCP 5600.

In embodiments wherein first information device 5400 is provided ananycast IP address of first content distribution node 5500 and secondcontent distribution node 5550, a failure 5900 of a link between firstrouter 5700 and first access network 5200 can cause long-lived contenttransmission 5800 to terminate. As used herein, wherein means in regardto which; and; and/or in addition to. First information device 5400 canrequest long-lived content transmission 5800 be provided via secondrouter 5710. Based upon information obtained from IRSCP 5500, secondrouter 5710 can be adapted to communicatively couple first informationdevice 5400 to second content distribution node 5550 rather than firstcontent distribution node 5500. Such a coupling can cause long-livedcontent transmission 5800 to reset and a new long-lived contenttransmission 5850 to begin from a first packet of new long-lived contenttransmission 5850.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 6000,which can comprise a backbone network 6100, a first access network 6200,a second access network 6300, a first information device 6400, a secondinformation device 6450, a first content distribution node 6500, and asecond content distribution node 6550, a first router 6700, a secondrouter 6710, a third router 6720, a fourth router 6730, a fifth router6740, a sixth router 6750, and an IRSCP 6600. Note, heavy dashed linesin system 6000 represent session communications, heavy solid linesrepresent physical and/or logical communications links, and light lineswith arrow tips represent an exchange of information between connectedentities. In certain exemplary embodiments, content requested by firstinformation device 6400 and/or second information device 6450 can bedetermined to be long-lived content. An exemplary long-lived contenttransmission 6800 can be provided to first information device 6400 fromfirst content distribution node 6500. First content distribution node6500 might have been selected to provide long-lived content transmission6800 to first information device 6400 by first router 6700 based uponinformation provided by IRSCP 6600.

In certain exemplary embodiments, first information device 6400 can beprovided with an anycast IP address of first content distribution node6500 and second content distribution node 6550 responsive to a requestfor long-lived content transmission 6800. In certain exemplaryembodiments, first content distribution node 6500 can automaticallydetect that long-lived content transmission 6800 is long-lived content.Responsive to a determination that long-lived content transmission 6800is long-lived content, first content distribution node 6500 can beadapted to provide a unicast IP address, unique to first contentdistribution node 6500, to first information device 6400. Informationdevice 6400 can be adapted to use the unicast IP address for remainingcommunications associated with long-lived content transmission 6800. Afailure 6900 of a link between first router 6700 and first accessnetwork 6200 can cause long-lived content transmission 6800 to betemporarily interrupted. Responsive to failure 6900 and/or loadbalancing performed by IRSCP 6600, first information device 6400 canrequest long-lived content transmission 6800 be provided via secondrouter 6710. Based upon the unicast IP address, second router 6710 canbe adapted to communicatively couple first information device 6400 tofirst content distribution node 6500 to continue transmission of thelong-lived content via continued long-lived content transmission 6850.Such a coupling might not cause long-lived content transmission 6800 toreset and continued long-lived content transmission 6850 can be adaptedto provide the long-lived content to first information device 6400without a session reset. As used herein, session means an activecommunication between devices and/or applications over a network.

Via a selected PE router of a plurality of PE routers, the anycast IPaddress can be adapted to be used to communicatively couple theinformation device to a selected content distribution node of theplurality of content distribution nodes. Responsive to a determinationthat the content is associated with a long-lived session of a potentialplurality of long-lived sessions, the selected content distribution nodecan be adapted to provide the information device with a unique unicastIP address of the selected content distribution node. As used herein,long-lived session means an active communication between devices and/orapplications over a network having a duration that exceeds apredetermined time period, such as, for example a communication thatcomprises a streaming video. The information device can be adapted toutilize the unique unicast IP address in communications with theselected content distribution node regarding only long-lived sessions ofa potential plurality of long-lived sessions.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 9000,which can comprise a backbone network 9100, a first access network 9200,a second access network 9300, a first information device 9400, a secondinformation device 9450, a first content distribution node 9500, and asecond content distribution node 9550, a first router 9700, a secondrouter 9710, a third router 9720, a fourth router 9730, a fifth router9740, a sixth router 9750, an IRSCP 9600, a first DNS server 9900, asecond DNS server 9940, and a DNS based redirection system 9920. Note,heavy dashed lines in system 9000 represent session communications,heavy solid lines represent physical and/or logical communicationslinks, and light lines with arrow tips represent an exchange ofinformation between connected entities.

In certain exemplary embodiments, Domain Name System (DNS) basedredirection system 9920 can be directly coupled to backbone network9100. DNS based redirection system 9920 can be adapted to provide ananycast IP address to a DNS server, such as first DNS server 9900 and/orsecond DNS server 9940, responsive to a domain portion of a UniformResource Locator (URL) received by the DNS server from an informationdevice, such as first information device 9400 and/or second informationdevice 9450. The domain name portion of the URL can be indicative of arequest by the information device for content. The anycast IP addresscan be assigned to a plurality of content distribution nodes, such asfirst content distribution node 9500 and second content distributionnode 9550. Each of the plurality of content distribution nodes can beassigned a unique unicast IP address. Each of the plurality of contentdistribution nodes can be addressable by the anycast IP address or theunique unicast IP address, via a selected PE router of a plurality of PErouters, such as first router 9700 and second router 9710. The anycastIP address adapted to be used to communicatively couple the informationdevice to a selected content distribution node of the plurality ofcontent distribution nodes, responsive to a determination that thecontent is associated with a long-lived session of a potential pluralityof long-lived sessions. The selected content distribution node can beadapted to provide the information device with the unique unicast IPaddress of the selected content distribution node. The informationdevice can be adapted to utilize the unique unicast IP address incommunications with the selected content distribution node regardingonly long-lived sessions of the potential plurality of long-livedsessions.

In certain exemplary embodiments, content requested by first informationdevice 9400 and/or second information device 9450 can be determined tobe long-lived content. An exemplary long-lived content transmission 9800can be provided to first information device 9400 from first contentdistribution node 9500. First content distribution node 9500 might havebeen selected to provide long-lived content transmission 9800 to firstinformation device 9400 by first router 9700 based upon informationprovided by IRSCP 9600. IRSCP 9600 can be directly coupled to backbonenetwork 9100. IRSCP 9600 can be adapted to automatically detect trafficloads in a network, such as first access network 9200, communicativelycoupled to an information device, such as first information device 9400.IRSCP 9600 can be adapted to dynamically change preferred routesprovided to the plurality of Provider Edge (PE) routers responsive tothe traffic loads.

In certain exemplary embodiments, first information device 9400 can beprovided with an anycast IP address of first content distribution node9500 and second content distribution node 9550 responsive to a requestfor long-lived content transmission 9800. In certain exemplaryembodiments, first content distribution node 9500 can automaticallydetect that long-lived content transmission 9800 is long-lived content.Responsive to a determination that long-lived content transmission 9800is long-lived content, first content distribution node 9500 can beadapted to provide a unicast IP address, unique to first contentdistribution node 9500, to first information device 9400. Informationdevice 9400 can be adapted to use the unicast IP address for remainingcommunications associated with long-lived content transmission 9800. Afailure 9900 of a link between first router 9700 and first accessnetwork 9200 can cause long-lived content transmission 9800 to betemporarily interrupted. Responsive to failure 9900 and/or loadbalancing performed by IRSCP 9600, first information device 9400 canrequest long-lived content transmission 9800 be provided via secondrouter 9710. Based upon the unicast IP address, second router 9710 canbe adapted to communicatively couple first information device 9400 tofirst content distribution node 9500 to continue transmission of thelong-lived content via continued long-lived content transmission 9850.Such a coupling might not cause long-lived content transmission 9800 toreset and continued long-lived content transmission 9850 can be adaptedto provide the long-lived content to first information device 9400without a session reset. As used herein, session means an activecommunication between devices and/or applications over a network.

Via a selected PE router of a plurality of PE routers, the anycast IPaddress can be adapted to be used to communicatively couple theinformation device to a selected content distribution node of theplurality of content distribution nodes. Responsive to a determinationthat the content is associated with a long-lived session of a potentialplurality of long-lived sessions, the selected content distribution nodecan be adapted to provide the information device with a unique unicastIP address of the selected content distribution node. As used herein,long-lived session means an active communication between devices and/orapplications over a network having a duration that exceeds apredetermined time period, such as, for example a communication thatcomprises a streaming video. The information device can be adapted toutilize the unique unicast IP address in communications with theselected content distribution node regarding only long-lived sessions ofa potential plurality of long-lived sessions.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 7000. Asused herein, method means a process, procedure, and/or collection ofrelated activities for accomplishing something. Any of the activitiesand/or subsets of the activities described herein associated with method7000 can be performed automatically and/or implemented viamachine-instructions stored in a machine-readable medium. In certainexemplary embodiments, instructions to implement any activity or subsetof activities of method 7000 can be transmitted via a signal. As usedherein, activity means an action, act, deed, function, step, and/orprocess and/or a portion thereof. As used herein, automatic meansperformed via an information device in a manner essentially independentof influence and/or control by a user. As used herein, automaticallymeans acting and/or operating in a manner essentially independent ofexternal human influence and/or control. For example, an automatic lightswitch can turn on upon “seeing” a person in its view, without theperson manually operating the light switch. As used herein, machineinstructions means directions adapted to cause a machine, such as aninformation device, to perform one or more particular activities,operations, and/or functions. The directions, which can sometimes forman entity called a “processor”, “kernel”, “operating system”, “program”,“application”, “utility”, “subroutine”, “script”, “macro”, “file”,“project”, “module”, “library”, “class”, and/or “object”, etc., can beembodied as machine code, source code, object code, compiled code,assembled code, interpretable code, and/or executable code, etc., inhardware, firmware, and/or software.

As used herein, signal means information, such as machine instructionsfor activities and/or one or more letters, words, characters, symbols,signal flags, visual displays, and/or special sounds, etc. havingprearranged meaning, encoded as automatically detectable variations in aphysical variable, such as a pneumatic, hydraulic, acoustic, fluidic,mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical, chemical, and/or biologicalvariable, such as power, energy, pressure, flowrate, viscosity, density,torque, impact, force, voltage, current, resistance, magnetomotiveforce, magnetic field intensity, magnetic field flux, magnetic fluxdensity, reluctance, permeability, index of refraction, opticalwavelength, polarization, reflectance, transmittance, phase shift,concentration, and/or temperature, etc. Depending on the context, asignal and/or the information encoded therein can be synchronous,asynchronous, hard real-time, soft real-time, non-real time,continuously generated, continuously varying, analog, discretelygenerated, discretely varying, quantized, digital, broadcast, multicast,unicast, transmitted, conveyed, received, continuously measured,discretely measured, processed, encoded, encrypted, multiplexed,modulated, spread, de-spread, demodulated, detected, de-multiplexed,decrypted, and/or decoded, etc.

At activity 7100, a request for an address associated with content canbe received from an information device. The information device can beadapted to, via a domain name portion of a Uniform Resource Locator(URL), send a message (i.e., a request for an address) to a DNS server.The DNS server can be adapted to provide an anycast IP addressresponsive to the message. The request for the address associated withcontent can be received at the DNS server, which can be adapted torequest the address associated with the content from a DNS basedredirection system directly coupled to a backbone network. The DNS basedredirection system can be adapted to determine an anycast IP address ofa plurality of content distribution servers responsive to the request.The DNS based redirection system can be adapted to provide the anycastIP address to the information device via the DNS server.

At activity 7200, the anycast IP address of the plurality of contentdistribution nodes can be provided to the requesting information devicefrom the DNS based redirection system via the local DNS server. Theanycast IP address can be shared by the plurality of contentdistribution nodes. The information device can be adapted to transmit afirst request for content. The first request for content can comprisethe anycast IP address. The first request for content can be received ata network router (e.g., a provider edge router).

At activity 7300, the network router can be adapted to utilize theanycast IP address to determine a logically nearest router to theinformation device. The router can effectively identify, based uponinformation obtained from an IRSCP, a first content distribution node,of a plurality of content distribution nodes. As used herein, logicallymeans related to a sequential placement relative to other elementsand/or identification of that sequential placement. As used herein,nearest means closest in proximity to. The first content distributionnode can be determined to be a logically nearest content distributionnode to the information device. An automatic determination that thefirst content distribution node is logically nearest to the informationdevice can be made by a Provider Edge router based upon preferred routesassigned by the IRSCP. The preferred routes can be based uponautomatically detected traffic loads in a network communicativelycoupled to the information device. The IRSCP can be adapted todynamically change the preferred routes. The network router can beadapted to communicatively couple the information device to the firstcontent distribution node. Thereby, the network router can be adapted toautomatically cause a communication session to be established betweenthe information device and the first content distribution node.

At activity 7400, a determination can be made that the content islong-lived content. The determination can be based upon a determinationthat a size of the long-lived content exceeds a predetermined threshold.The predetermined threshold can be, in megabytes, 25, 75.8, 81.4, 199,250, 743.9, 891, 928.6, 2145, 4487.5, 6000, 24327.6, 45849, 78394.7,140239.6, 250000, 1000000, and/or any value or subrange there between.The determination can be based upon a determination that a duration oftransmission of the long-lived content exceeds a predetermined duration.The predetermined duration can be, in minutes, 0.1, 1, 4.5, 5.8, 8,10.4, 25, 48.9, 79.9, 113.45, 455, 627.4, 1204.5, 1508, 7409, 9915.3,15000, and/or any value or subrange there between. In certain exemplaryembodiments, content that is not long-lived content can be assigned adifferent anycast address from long-lived content and the determinationthat the content is long-lived can be based upon the anycast address.

At activity 7500, a unicast IP address of the first content distributionnode can be automatically provided (i.e., application level redirectioncan be provided) to the requesting information device responsive to thedetermination that the content is long-lived content. The informationdevice can be adapted to provide the first content distribution nodewith a second request for the content that comprises the unicast IPaddress. The content distribution node can be addressable by either theanycast IP address or the unicast IP address.

Application layer redirection can function as follows. First, end-userscan request streaming content, such as by selecting a uniform resourcelocator (URL) on a Web page hosted by the publishing platform using theanycast IP address. In certain exemplary embodiments, a Web object canbe a streaming meta-file (e.g. an ASX file) which can comprise thestreaming URL. In certain exemplary embodiments, the meta-file mightcontain the unicast IP address associated with the CDN node. Theredirection server can be contacted to obtain the actual streaming URL.

At activity 7600, the content can be provided to and/or received at therequesting information device from the first content distribution node.The content can be automatically provided from a cache comprised by thefirst content distribution node. If the first content distribution nodedoes not have the content in a memory device directly coupled thereto,the first content distribution node can be adapted to automaticallyrequest the content from a content provider.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an informationdevice 8000, which in certain operative embodiments can comprise, forexample, first information device 1400 and second information device1450 of FIG. 1. Information device 8000 can comprise any of numerouscomponents, such as for example, one or more network interfaces 8100,one or more processors 8200, one or more memories 8300 containinginstructions 8400, one or more input/output (I/O) devices 8500, and/orone or more user interfaces 8600 coupled to I/O device 8500, etc.

In certain exemplary embodiments, via one or more user interfaces 8600,such as a graphical user interface, a user can view a rendering ofinformation related to researching, designing, modeling, creating,developing, building, manufacturing, operating, maintaining, storing,marketing, selling, delivering, selecting, specifying, requesting,ordering, receiving, returning, rating, and/or recommending any of theproducts, services, methods, and/or information described herein.

As used herein, information device means any device on which resides afinite state machine capable of implementing at least a portion of amethod, structure, and/or or graphical user interface described herein.An information device can comprise well-known communicatively coupledcomponents, such as one or more network interfaces, one or moreprocessors, one or more memories containing instructions, one or moreinput/output (I/O) devices, and/or one or more user interfaces (e.g.,coupled to an I/O device) via which information can be rendered toimplement one or more functions described herein. For example, aninformation device can be any general purpose and/or special purposecomputer, such as a personal computer, video game system (e.g.,PlayStation, Nintendo Gameboy, X-Box, etc.), workstation, server,minicomputer, mainframe, supercomputer, computer terminal, laptop,wearable computer, and/or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), iPod, mobileterminal, Bluetooth device, communicator, “smart” phone (such as aTreo-like device), messaging service (e.g., Blackberry) receiver, pager,facsimile, cellular telephone, a traditional telephone, telephonicdevice, a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and/or peripheralintegrated circuit elements, a digital signal processor, an ASIC orother integrated circuit, a hardware electronic logic circuit such as adiscrete element circuit, and/or a programmable logic device such as aPLD, PLA, FPGA, or PAL, or the like, etc.

As used herein, processor means a hardware, firmware, and/or softwaremachine and/or virtual machine comprising a set of machine-readableinstructions adaptable to perform a specific task. A processor canutilize mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, magnetic, optical,informational, chemical, and/or biological principles, mechanisms,signals, and/or inputs to perform the task(s). In certain embodiments, aprocessor can act upon information by manipulating, analyzing,modifying, and/or converting it, transmitting the information for use byan executable procedure and/or an information device, and/or routing theinformation to an output device. A processor can function as a centralprocessing unit, local controller, remote controller, parallelcontroller, and/or distributed controller, etc. Unless stated otherwise,the processor can be a general-purpose device, such as a microcontrollerand/or a microprocessor, such the Pentium IV series of microprocessormanufactured by the Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif. In certainembodiments, the processor can be dedicated purpose device, such as anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or a Field ProgrammableGate Array (FPGA) that has been designed to implement in its hardwareand/or firmware at least a part of an embodiment disclosed herein. Aprocessor can reside on and use the capabilities of a controller.

As used herein, input/output (I/O) device means any sensory-orientedinput and/or output device, such as an audio, visual, haptic, olfactory,and/or taste-oriented device, including, for example, a monitor,display, projector, overhead display, keyboard, keypad, mouse,trackball, joystick, gamepad, wheel, touchpad, touch panel, pointingdevice, microphone, speaker, video camera, camera, scanner, printer,haptic device, vibrator, tactile simulator, and/or tactile pad,potentially including a port to which an I/O device can be attached orconnected.

As used herein, machine-readable medium means a physical structure fromwhich a machine, such as an information device, computer,microprocessor, and/or controller, etc., can obtain and/or store data,information, and/or instructions. Examples include memories, punchcards, and/or optically readable forms, etc. As used herein, memorydevice means an apparatus capable of storing analog or digitalinformation, such as instructions and/or data. Examples include anonvolatile memory, volatile memory, Random Access Memory, RAM, ReadOnly Memory, ROM, flash memory, magnetic media, a hard disk, a floppydisk, a magnetic tape, an optical media, an optical disk, a compactdisk, a CD, a digital versatile disk, a DVD, and/or a raid array, etc.The memory device can be coupled to a processor and/or can storeinstructions adapted to be executed by processor, such as according toan embodiment disclosed herein.

As used herein, user interface means a device and/or software programfor rendering information to a user and/or requesting information fromthe user. A user interface can include at least one of textual,graphical, audio, video, animation, and/or haptic elements. A textualelement can be provided, for example, by a printer, monitor, display,projector, etc. A graphical element can be provided, for example, via amonitor, display, projector, and/or visual indication device, such as alight, flag, beacon, etc. An audio element can be provided, for example,via a speaker, microphone, and/or other sound generating and/orreceiving device. A video element or animation element can be provided,for example, via a monitor, display, projector, and/or other visualdevice. A haptic element can be provided, for example, via a very lowfrequency speaker, vibrator, tactile stimulator, tactile pad, simulator,keyboard, keypad, mouse, trackball, joystick, gamepad, wheel, touchpad,touch panel, pointing device, and/or other haptic device, etc. A userinterface can include one or more textual elements such as, for example,one or more letters, number, symbols, etc. A user interface can includeone or more graphical elements such as, for example, an image,photograph, drawing, icon, window, title bar, panel, sheet, tab, drawer,matrix, table, form, calendar, outline view, frame, dialog box, statictext, text box, list, pick list, pop-up list, pull-down list, menu, toolbar, dock, check box, radio button, hyperlink, browser, button, control,palette, preview panel, color wheel, dial, slider, scroll bar, cursor,status bar, stepper, and/or progress indicator, etc. A textual and/orgraphical element can be used for selecting, programming, adjusting,changing, specifying, etc. an appearance, background color, backgroundstyle, border style, border thickness, foreground color, font, fontstyle, font size, alignment, line spacing, indent, maximum data length,validation, query, cursor type, pointer type, autosizing, position,and/or dimension, etc. A user interface can include one or more audioelements such as, for example, a volume control, pitch control, speedcontrol, voice selector, and/or one or more elements for controllingaudio play, speed, pause, fast forward, reverse, etc. A user interfacecan include one or more video elements such as, for example, elementscontrolling video play, speed, pause, fast forward, reverse, zoom-in,zoom-out, rotate, and/or tilt, etc. A user interface can include one ormore animation elements such as, for example, elements controllinganimation play, pause, fast forward, reverse, zoom-in, zoom-out, rotate,tilt, color, intensity, speed, frequency, appearance, etc. A userinterface can include one or more haptic elements such as, for example,elements utilizing tactile stimulus, force, pressure, vibration, motion,displacement, temperature, etc. As used herein, said means when used ina system or device claim, an article indicating a subsequent claim termthat has been previously introduced.

As used herein, render means to display, annunciate, speak, print,and/or otherwise make perceptible to a human, for example as data,commands, text, graphics, audio, video, animation, and/or hyperlinks,etc., such as via any visual, audio, and/or haptic means, such as via adisplay, monitor, printer, electric paper, ocular implant, cochlearimplant, speaker, etc.

As used herein, obtain means to receive, get, take possession of,procure, acquire, calculate, determine, and/or compute. As used herein,receive means to gather, take, acquire, obtain, accept, get, and/or havebestowed upon. As used herein, adapted to means suitable, fit, and/orcapable of performing a specified function. As used herein, performmeans to begin, take action, do, fulfill, accomplish, carry out, and/orcomplete, such as in accordance with one or more criterion. As usedherein, information means facts, terms, concepts, phrases, expressions,commands, numbers, characters, and/or symbols, etc., that are related toa subject. Sometimes used synonymously with data, and sometimes used todescribe organized, transformed, and/or processed data. It is generallypossible to automate certain activities involving the management,organization, storage, transformation, communication, and/orpresentation of information.

As used herein, only means substantially without anything further. Asused herein, substantially means to a considerable, large, and/or great,but not necessarily whole and/or entire, extent and/or degree. As usedherein, otherwise means in other respects. As used herein, thereby meansbecause of. As used herein, allow means to provide, let do, happen,and/or permit. As used herein, cost means a quantitative and/orqualitative measure of time and/or resources associated with anactivity. As used herein, fail means to cease proper functioning and/orperformance. As used herein, all means every one of a set. As usedherein, comprised by means included by. As used herein, Domain NameSystem (DNS) server means a device and/or system adapted to associate atleast a portion of a domain name and/or Uniform Resource Locator addresswith an

Internet Protocol address and adapted to provide the Internet Protocoladdress to requesting information devices.

As used herein, address means (n.) one or more identifiers, such as oneor more symbols, characters, names, and/or numbers, used foridentification in information transmission, storage, and/or retrieval,the one or more identifiers assignable to a specific physical, logical,and/or virtual machine, process, node, object, entity, record, dataelement, component, port, interface, location, link, route, circuit,and/or network; (v.) to locate, access, assign, and/or provide anidentifier a specific physical, logical, and/or virtual machine,process, node, object, entity, record, data element, component, port,interface, location, link, route, circuit, and/or network. As usedherein, circuit means an electrically conductive pathway and/or acommunications connection established across two or more switchingdevices comprised by a network and between corresponding end systemsconnected to, but not comprised by the network. As used herein,dynamically means on demand or as necessary. As used herein, entitymeans something that exists as a particular and discrete unit.

As used herein, detect means to sense, perceive, identify, discover,ascertain, respond to, and/or receive the existence, presence, and/orfact of. As used herein, regarding means pertaining to. As used herein,change means (v.) to cause to be different; (n.) the act, process,and/or result of altering or modifying. As used herein, assign means todesignate, appoint, allot, and/or attribute, and/or to select and setapart for a particular purpose. As used herein, Uniform Resource Locator(URL) means an address that specifies a location of a file. As usedherein, directly means without anything intervening. As used herein,first means an initial element of a series. As used herein, if means incase that. As used herein, second means an element that immediatelyfollows an initial element of a series. As used herein, request means(v.) to express a need and/or desire for; to inquire and/or ask for.(n.) that which communicates an expression of desire and/or that whichis asked for. As used herein, communications link means an establishedcommunication channel. As used herein, based means being derived from.As used herein, based upon means determined in consideration of and/orderived from. As used herein, determine means to obtain, calculate,decide, deduce, establish, and/or ascertain. As used herein, establishmeans to create, form, and/or set-up.

As used herein, redirect means to change the direction and/or route of.As used herein, route means (n) a path along which information, such aspackets, can be sent; (v) to select a network path for a message. Asused herein, system means a collection of mechanisms, devices, data,and/or instructions, the collection designed to perform one or morespecific functions. As used herein, unicast means a communication via anetwork between a single sender and a single receiver. As used herein,communication means a transmission and/or exchange of information. Asused herein, store means to place, hold, retain, enter, and/or copy intoand/or onto a machine-readable medium. As used herein, communicativelymeans linking in a manner that facilitates communications. As usedherein, communicatively couple means to link in a manner thatfacilitates communications. As used herein, couple means to join,connect, and/or link two things together. As used herein, cache means amemory where frequently accessed data can be stored for relatively rapidaccess. As used herein, local area network (LAN) means a datacommunications network that is geographically limited (typically to a 1km radius). As used herein, each means every one of a group consideredindividually.

As used herein, domain means a group of computers and/or devices on acommunications network that are administered as a unit with at leastsome common rules and/or procedures and share at least a portion of acommon name and/or communications address. As used herein, approximatelymeans about and/or nearly the same as. As used herein, located meanssituated in a particular spot and/or position. As used herein, interfacemeans (n) an addressable device for communicatively coupling an entity(such as a router, server, switch, softswitch, gateway, etc.) to apacket network, the addressable device comprising hardware, firmware,and/or software, etc. The entity can have multiple interfaces, each ofwhich can be addressable via one or more packet networks. (v) to connectwith and/or interact with by way of an interface. As used herein,comprise means to include but not be limited to. As used herein,potential means existing in possibility. As used herein, occur means totake place.

As used herein, more means greater in size, amount, extent, and/ordegree. As used herein, Internet Protocol (IP) means a network protocolthat specifies the format of packets, also called datagrams, and theaddressing scheme for the packets. By itself, IP is a protocol forproviding a message from a source to a network, but does not establish adirect link between the source and the destination. As used herein,message means a communication. TCP/IP, on the other hand, can establisha connection between two communicators so that they can send messagesback and forth for a period of time. As used herein, backbone networkmeans a “transit” network, often made up of long-distance telephonetrunk lines and/or other wired and/or wireless links such as microwaveand satellite links, adapted for transmitting large amounts of datasimultaneously between host computer systems connected to the Internet.As used herein, between means in a separating interval and/orintermediate to. As used herein, data means information represented in aform suitable for processing by an information device. As used herein,device means a machine, manufacture, and/or collection thereof.

Definitions

When terms are used substantively herein for which explicit definitionshave been provided, these definitions apply. These terms and definitionsare presented without prejudice, and, consistent with the application,the right to redefine these terms during the prosecution of thisapplication or any application claiming priority hereto is reserved. Forthe purpose of interpreting a claim of any patent that claims priorityhereto, each definition (or redefined term if an original definition wasamended during the prosecution of that patent), functions as a clear andunambiguous disavowal of the subject matter outside of that definition.As used herein, link means a physical and/or logical communicationchannel between a pair of switching and/or routing devices; and/or anactivateable connection to another web page, location in a web page,file, and/or other Internet resource.

Note

Still other substantially and specifically practical and usefulembodiments will become readily apparent to those skilled in this artfrom reading the above-recited and/or herein-included detaileddescription and/or drawings of certain exemplary embodiments. It shouldbe understood that numerous variations, modifications, and additionalembodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations,modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within thescope of this application.

Thus, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field,background, summary, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of thisapplication, unless clearly specified to the contrary, such as via anexplicit definition, assertion, or argument, with respect to any claim,whether of this application and/or any claim of any application claimingpriority hereto, and whether originally presented or otherwise:

there is no requirement for the inclusion of any particular described orillustrated characteristic, function, activity, or element, anyparticular sequence of activities, or any particular interrelationshipof elements;

any elements can be integrated, segregated, and/or duplicated;

any activity can be repeated, performed by multiple entities, and/orperformed in multiple jurisdictions; and

any activity or element can be specifically excluded, the sequence ofactivities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of elements can vary.

Moreover, when any number or range is described herein, unless clearlystated otherwise, that number or range is approximate. When any range isdescribed herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that range includesall values therein and all subranges therein. For example, if a range of1 to 10 is described, that range includes all values there between, suchas for example, 1.1, 2.5, 3.335, 5, 6.179, 8.9999, etc., and includesall subranges there between, such as for example, 1 to 3.65, 2.8 to8.14, 1.93 to 9, etc.

Any information in any material (e.g., a United States patent, UnitedStates patent application, book, article, etc.) that has beenincorporated by reference herein, is only incorporated by reference tothe extent that no conflict exists between such information and theother statements and drawings set forth herein. In the event of suchconflict, including a conflict that would render invalid any claimherein or seeking priority hereto, then any such conflicting informationin such incorporated by reference material is specifically notincorporated by reference herein.

Accordingly, every portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary,abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, other than theclaims themselves, is to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and notas restrictive

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a memory that storesinstructions; a processor that executes the instructions to performoperations, the operations comprising: providing, in response to a firstrequest from a device for an address associated with content, an anycastinternet protocol address; determining whether the content is long-livedcontent based on the anycast internet protocol address being a firstanycast internet protocol address that is associated with the long-livedcontent rather than a second anycast internet protocol address that isassociated with short-lived content; providing, to the device, anunicast internet protocol address of a first content distribution nodewhen the content is determined to be the long-lived content; andtransmitting, in response to a second request for the content, thecontent to the device.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operationsfurther comprise receiving the second request for the content, whereinthe second request comprises the unicast internet protocol address. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further compriseselecting, based on the anycast internet protocol address, the firstcontent distribution node from a plurality of content distributionnodes.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further compriseselecting the first content distribution node based on the first contentdistribution node being physically nearest to the device, based on alogical proximity of the first content distribution node to the device,or a combination thereof.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein theoperations further comprise providing the unicast internet protocoladdress via an application level redirection.
 6. The system of claim 1,wherein the operations further comprise obtaining the unicast internetprotocol address from a meta-file.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein theoperations further comprise determining that the content is thelong-lived content based on a size of the content exceeding a threshold.8. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprisedetermining that the content is the long-lived content based on aduration of transmission associated with the content exceeding apredetermined duration.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the operationsfurther comprise determining the anycast internet protocol address inresponse to the first request.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein theoperations further comprise sharing the anycast internet protocoladdress with the first content distribution node and a plurality ofother content distribution nodes.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein theoperations further comprise identifying the first content distributionnode based on information provided by an intelligent route servicecontrol point.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations furthercomprise determining if a failure of a link between a first router andan access network occurs during transmission of the content to thedevice.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations furthercomprise providing the content via a second router if the failure of thelink has occurred.
 14. A method, comprising: providing, in response to afirst request from a device for an address associated with content, ananycast internet protocol address; determining, by utilizinginstructions from a memory that are executed by a processor, whether thecontent is long-lived content based on the anycast internet protocoladdress being a first anycast internet protocol address that isassociated with the long-lived content rather than a second anycastinternet protocol address that is associated with short-lived content;providing, to the device, an unicast internet protocol address of afirst content distribution node when the content is determined to be thelong-lived content; and providing, in response to a second request forthe content that includes the unicast internet protocol address, thecontent to the device.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprisingproviding the content to the device without a session reset.
 16. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising adjusting routing of packets ofthe content to the device in accordance with a ranked table of links andinformation devices.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprisingranking the links and information devices relative to a load on eachrespective link and information device in the ranked table.
 18. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising modifying routing of packets ofthe content based on a detected condition affecting a network,
 19. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising selecting the first contentdistribution node based on the first content distribution node beingphysically nearest to the device, based on a logical proximity of thefirst content distribution node to the device, or a combination thereof.20. A non-transitory machine-readable device comprising instructions,which, when loaded and executed by a processor, cause the processor theperform operations, the operations comprising: providing, in response toa first request from a device for an address associated with content, ananycast internet protocol address; determining that the content islong-lived content based on the anycast internet protocol address beinga first anycast internet protocol address that is associated with thelong-lived content rather than a second anycast internet protocoladdress that is associated with short-lived content; providing, to thedevice and in response to the determination, an unicast internetprotocol address of a first content distribution node; and transmitting,in response to a second request for the content that includes theunicast internet protocol address, the content to the device.